Nino Schurter debuts in the legendary BC Bike Race

The BC Bike Race 2026 already has its star, and it is probably the most symbolic signing possible to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most iconic stage races in mountain biking. Nino Schurter will compete in the Canadian race for the first time, which will also be the last edition of the original format of seven consecutive days.

Nino Schurter will race in the BC Bike Race 2026 in the last edition of the legendary 7-day format

The organization has confirmed that the 2026 edition will bring together 800 riders from 35 countries between May 23 and 29 on the trails of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It will also mark the definitive end of an era for a race that has been the global reference for MTB since 2007, featuring stages full of singletrack.

Schurter's presence automatically makes this edition one of the most media-covered in the history of the race. The Swiss rider arrives after starting a new sporting phase, partially away from the XCO World Cup, exploring gravel races and events that differ from the traditional calendar. Nevertheless, his record remains practically unattainable in modern mountain biking with ten XCO world titles, nine overall World Cup titles, and an Olympic gold, in addition to three victories at the Cape Epic.

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The BC Bike Race has been trying for years to attract the Swiss rider, and it will finally do so precisely in the farewell of the format that made the race a global reference. Schurter will not arrive alone. He will share a bib with another historical Swiss MTB legend, Thomas Frischknecht, a World Cup champion and one of Nino's great sports mentors during his early years with SCOTT-SRAM.

A lineup full of Canadian stars

Despite the enormous media focus that Schurter will attract, the men's participation will be particularly deep, with numerous local riders capable of competing for the overall title. Among them is Geoff Kabush, one of the historical names in Canadian MTB, a World Cup winner and former BC Bike Race champion.

There will also be riders like Peter Disera, an Olympian and multiple national XCO champion of Canada; Cory Wallace, a six-time 24-hour world champion; and Carter Nieuwesteeg, who arrives with significant competitive momentum after his recent victories in marathon and all-mountain races in Canada.

Another particularly notable name will be Antoine Duchesne. The former Canadian road professional, who competed in the Tour de France, Giro, and Vuelta, will swap asphalt for singletrack in a race where the endurance accumulated over seven days usually makes a huge difference.

Sandra Walter and Maghalie Rochette lead the women's race

The women's category will also feature a high-level lineup with several historical champions of the race. The main reference will again be Sandra Walter, winner in 2022 and 2025. Last year, she completely dominated the race, winning all the stages and the overall classification.

Facing her will be Maghalie Rochette, the BC Bike Race 2024 champion, who returns after withdrawing from the 2025 edition due to a hand fracture while fighting for victory.

The women's lineup is completed by another true institution of the race, Katerina Nash, probably the most emblematic rider in the history of the event and a regular at the BC Bike Race for over a decade.

The Gehrig sisters, Anita Gehrig and Caro Gehrig, two of the great historical references in women's enduro, also stand out, along with young American Ruth Holcomb, one of the most promising emerging cyclists in North American MTB.

The last BC Bike Race of seven days

The 2026 edition will also have a particularly emotional component. It will be the last time the race is held in the classic format of seven consecutive days that helped build the identity of the event over two decades.

The route will start in Cumberland and traverse some of the most well-known trails of Vancouver Island, passing through Parksville, Hammerfest, Nanaimo, and North Cowichan, where it will directly link to the new BC Bike Fest.

The organization has also revealed how the new race concept for 2027 will be. The event will return to Squamish and introduce two different formats. On one hand, a “Classic” five-day route and on the other, a new “Enduro” version focused on timed specials on some of the most famous trails in British Columbia.

Dean Payne, the president of the event, summarized the new direction of the event: “We have never been so excited about what we are going to bring to the starting line. New format, new terrain, and the same community that makes this race different from any other.”